Commissioner Joseph E. Brennan to Serve Second Term at Federal Maritime Commission, issued July 1, 2004

Federal Maritime Commission
Washington, D.C. 20573

FOR RELEASE - JULY 1, 2004

The Federal Maritime Commission announced today that Joseph E. Brennan has been sworn in as a commissioner for a term to expire on June 30, 2008. President George W. Bush made the nomination in March, and the U.S. Senate confirmed in May. Brennan's first term on the Commission began in 1999, following nomination by President William J. Clinton.

Since joining the Commission, he has been directly involved in all of the various matters that have come before the Commission for decision. Last year Brennan was named by the Commission as the fact-finding officer in the agency's investigation of the service-contracting practices of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement. The investigation led to a settlement in September 2003 between the ocean carriers and the Federal Maritime Commission.

With his reappointment, Brennan continues an accomplished career of public service. He was the governor of Maine from 1979 to 1987 and chaired the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers. The creation of the Finance Authority of Maine, which has participated in most economic development projects in Maine, was one of the principal achievements of his administration. Major educational reforms were another hallmark of his administration.

Brennan represented Maine's First District in the U.S. Congress from 1987 to 1991 and oversaw maritime matters as a member of the Armed Services Committee and Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee.

As a member of the Maine State Senate from 1973 to 1974, Brennan was minority floor leader. From 1965 to 1971, he served in the Maine House of Representatives and was minority whip.

Brennan was Maine's attorney general from 1975 to 1979 and the district attorney of Cumberland County from 1971 to 1972 . He was also an attorney at the law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson & Hand in Washington, D.C. from 1991 to 1995.

Brennan earned a J.D. in 1963 from the University of Maine School of Law and a B.S. in economics from Boston College in 1958. He served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955.

He is married to Constance Brennan and has two adult children, Joseph and Tara.